Spirit of PlaceSummer 2017, Living Well Magazine by Elizabeth Melican In October this year, I attended my ninth retreat program at the Yarra Valley Living Centre – the new Meditation Teacher Training, Module 3 immersion - and, as always, I felt my heart expand with gratitude as I entered the grounds. There is a special energy, or … Continue reading Spirit of Place

Neuroscience and Mindfulness MeditationSummer 2017, Living Well Magazine by Paul Bedson It is always heartwarming when there is a convergence between science (neuroscience), psychology (mental health) and spirituality (meditation). These three areas of study are sometimes antagonistic but the new science of the brain is bringing them together, perhaps as strange bedfellows! The new technology … Continue reading Neuroscience and Mindfulness Meditation

Awakening Around RosesSummer 2017, Living Well Magazine by Michelle Endersby My first experience with the Yarra Valley Living Centre was as a support person for my husband, Brian - who has primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We attended one of the first Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS) Retreats, facilitated by Professor George Jelinek and Dr Ian Gawler, … Continue reading Awakening Around Roses

Kitchen Bench MicroGreensSummer 2017, Living Well Magazine by Mascha Florisson While doing some research in my local library, I stumbled upon a book by Peter Burke, ‘Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening’. The book describes Burke’s technique for growing, as the title suggests, year-round salad leaves on your kitchen bench, simply and easily without the need for any … Continue reading Kitchen Bench MicroGreens

Soiled Soils - Heavy Metal Contamination in Garden SoilsSpring 2017, Living Well Magazine by Mascha Florisson The health benefits of growing your own vegetables are well researched, and many people dig up their lawns in favour of a backyard vegetable garden. There is nothing nicer than doing your vegetable shopping in your own backyard and nothing … Continue reading Soiled Soils – Heavy Metal Contamination in Garden Soils

Finding PeaceSpring 2017, Living Well Magazine Dear Paul and Maia, This week has proved to be the most challenging yet in my cancer journey. However I have been able to be an active participant in some frank discussions with my health team and furthermore make some very tough decisions with respect to my ongoing treatment. … Continue reading Finding Peace

Artistic Symbolism of 150 Years of MedicineSpring 2017, Living Well Magazine Gawler community member, Michael Meszaros, is a brilliant artist who was commissioned to create a major public sculpture for the 150th anniversary of Melbourne University Medical School. The 2.3 metre high bronze sculpture, was unveiled in August 2013, and until very recently took up … Continue reading Artistic Symbolism of 150 Years of Medicine

The Simple ThingsSpring 2017, Living Well Magazine God help us to live slowly To move simply To look softly To allow emptiness To let the Heart create for us. Amen. Michael Leunig I was so touched and inspired by Michael Leunig’s short prayer/poem, that I contacted him when co-authoring Meditation, An In-Depth Guide with Ian … Continue reading The Simple Things

Plant-Based Initiatives in the U.S. and CanadaSpring 2017, Living Well Magazine In June 2017, The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed the resolution for hospitals in the United States to provide plant-based meals that are low in fat, sodium and added sugars, to remove cancer-causing (Group 1, carcinogenic) processed meats from their menus, and … Continue reading Plant-Based Initiatives in the U.S. and Canada

Lessons through Cancer created a CommunitySpring 2017, Living Well Magazine by Jillian Exton At what point do you really know – or stop to consider – if what you are doing is what you are really meant to be doing in this life? Entry into a grown-up life can be a haphazard transition; what is … Continue reading Lessons through Cancer created a Community